Herald-Press

 

BY SEAN GIGGY

 

It wasn’t a perfect performance, but it was just about as good as could be.

Four of the six Huntington North boys’ track athletes competing in Thursday’s Fort Wayne Wayne regional qualified for the state meet and the Vikes finished sixth overall as a team with 45 points.

Carroll won the team title with 64 points. Fort Wayne Northrop was right behind with 62 points. East Noble was third with 57 points, followed by Harding (51), Homestead (50.5), Huntington North, Marion (34), Snider (29), South Side (27.5) and North Side (17).

“A sixth place team finish is awesome,” said Huntington North head coach Clark Chambers. “The team did well, but beyond that we did very well individually. We have four guys going to state. It was a very good night for us.”

Josh Graham, Rex Drabenstot and Ross Ochs will all make return trips to the state finals and Rob Sands will join them after nearly qualifying a year ago.

The top three individuals and relays in each event and anyone who passes the state standard earns a state berth.

Graham was a double qualifier for the Vikings. He finished second in the 1,600-meter run in 4:36.49 and was third in the 800 in 1:58.67.

“Josh ran a great double,” said Chambers. “The 1,600 was great, but the 800 was awesome. That’s a tough, tough race in these conditions. That’s a very good time.”

Rex Drabenstot continued his hot streak in the shot put with a toss of 55 feet, 9.75 inches on Thursday. Drabenstot has won the shot put at every event this season.

“Rex has done a great job,” Chambers said. “We’ve got to work on his technique a little bit, but the main thing is we’re going to state. We get another chance.”

Ches McClure finished fifth in the shot put with a throw of 52-11.5.

Rob Sands had been battling an injury heading into the Wayne regional, but used a last minute push to surge into the state finals.

After missing a state berth in the long jump by three inches, Sands looked to be out of contention heading into the final 20 meters of the 300 hurdles, but mistakes by several other runners pushed him near the front.

The leader, Wayne’s Elbert Johnson, tripped and fell over the final hurdle and three other runners hit the hurdles as Sands made up three spots in the final 10 meters to place second in 40.44 seconds.

Sands finished fourth in the same event in last year’s regional.

“It’s a no-brainer, had Rob been healthy he finishes second in the long jump,” Chambers said. “But, he was able to gut out a great performance in the hurdles and come back from about fifth or sixth and finish second right at the line. There’s an example of a guy wanting it really badly.”

Ochs qualified in the 3,200 for the second straight year following a third place finish in 9:39.03. He trimmed over six seconds off his sectional winning time from a week ago.

“Ross had the double [win] last week, but Josh got it this week,” Chambers said. “Both those kids, I’m very proud of them. Everybody that came up did a good job for us.”

Austin Roberts also ran the 3,200, but did not score in the event.

McClure’s season in the discus came to a disappointing end. His throw of 143-06, nearly 11 feet shorter than his sectional throw, put him in ninth place.

“Ches really worked hard this year and overcame a knee injury,” Chambers said. “We were hoping he would get there, but he just fell a little bit short.”

The state meet will be held Friday, June 5 at the Robert C. Haugh Track and Field Complex on the campus of Indiana University.

The Hutington North boys’ track and field team will also hold its awards banquet on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the school cafeteria. The event will include dessert only and those who plan to attend are asked to bring table service.